General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM): GM and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) are reportedly making progress on the costs associated with their pension programs, allowing the companies to free up some much needed capital for their core businesses. The two are responsible for two of the largest pension obligations among all U.S. companies, and said last week that they see significant improvement in their plans due to the rising interest rates used to calculate the cost of future payments to retirees, The Detroit News reports.